UK and University of Otago researchers have presented a "world-first weight loss device," which attaches to the teeth and prevents patients from opening their mouths wider than 2 mm.
Called the DentalSlim Diet Control, the device is a magnetic contraption which allows tiny gap between the teeth, meaning the person using it can only ingest liquids
Meanwhile, the device has been dubbed as one of the “most appalling things” on social media. While responding to the University of Otago post, one user wrote, The thought of having a bout of coughing or even sneezing with this on seems pretty horrible. What happens to yawns?
Many people on the internet disagreed with this “fact,” slamming the DentalSlim for perpetuating toxic diet culture and fatphobia, with some even going as far as to call the device “evil.”
The participants also alleged the device was “hard to use”, causing discomfort with their speech. They also reportedly felt tense and that “life, in general, was less satisfying”.
The university however clarified, saying the intention of the device is not intended as a quick or long-term weight-loss tool; rather it is aimed to assist people who need to undergo surgery and who cannot have the surgery until they have lost weight.